Good Morning Mary,
The outside of our home
was painted yesterday, and it looks incredible. We love the colors
you chose. It makes such a difference. Color is so crucial. I
am meeting with the painter tomorow to go over the interior colors.
It should be complete in a week or so. Mary, thanks for your
contribution to this home. I love how it looks!Have a great day, Liza
B.

Have you ever painted a room, or worse the entire outside of your house and decided the color was not what you wanted at all? Well, I have - too many times. I first hired Mary when I moved to Portland. I had no furniture in the house - only pictures of it. In an hour she helped me choose colors for every room and after I moved everything in, it was perfect. She later helped me with a remodel – again paint colors and also kitchen tile and formica. I was very happy with everything. When I moved again I again called her and she helped me with paint colors inside and out. And everything turned out just the way I wanted it.

Mary is very easy to work with. She has a case full of swatches and knows a lot about color. She can tell you if you need a warm or cool color, what it will look like at night or in daylight. She's very good at making sure that everything goes well together - ceiling color compliments walls, etc. And she will steer you in the right direction if you have some idea in mind but you're not quite sure how to implement it.
I have wasted so much money over the years on paint and then wasn't happy with it. She is extremely knowledgeable and the money will be well spent. I highly recommend her.- Sue P.

"Consider
beauty as much as function. I hired an artist rather than an
interior decorator. Mary McMurray of Portland's Art First ...
refined the concepts. She suggested ways to blend color and texture
without dumbing down the room into white and beige. She was worth
every penny of her fee."
Angela Allen,
'The Columbian',
"Recipe for a Kitchen Remodel".

"I'm
a word person; colors can confuse me.

I've had bare white walls
to hang art on. I've spent many a rainy day feeling that the
universe was smeared with too much gray. I've hid that I'm not
sure what color periwinkle is. I'd never hazard a guess about
what three or four colors might look nice with peach.

That's why Mary McMurray of
ART FIRST was such a treasure when I wanted to repaint four rooms
in my fifty-year- old Irvington home. I told her that I like
roses and blues; teals and yellows make me bilious. I sensed
that some color would bring out the lovely red in my oriental
carpet better than the creamy off-white that bored me after 18
years.

My consultation with Mary
seemed to go well. She had color chips, a terrific portfolio
of exciting ­ and sometimes daring ­ ideas. She listened
attentively and asked what I used my rooms for, when I used them,
and how I wanted them to feel. Two days later she returned with
suggestions for how to paint my rooms.

I gulped. These colors she
laid on the table challenged every notion I had about ceilings
and walls. Then I decided that her solutions were not only beautiful,
they were brilliant. I asked her to figure how much paint I'd
need so I could get started.

Four months later, all the
rooms are finished. I'll confess to an intense moment of doubt
when the first swatch went up in the living room, but I had faith
and forged on.

The feel of rightness of the
colors she chose has drawn comment from every one of my guests.
I have never felt more at home in my home.

You bet I hand out her cards!
She brought warmth and grace to a home I dearly love."

Tricia K., Portland Oregon

Mary at Art First Colors is absolutely the best "color-picker-outer" (as my contractor calls her!) you could hope for.I have used her services for commercial as well as residential projects. Interior and exterior. I strongly recommend her. She has genius skills in the use of color, including it's effect on behavior. In my commercial project she factored the function of each room into her recommendations. Want retail merchandise to pop? Don't want people feeling nauseous in your cafe? Want to "promote lively conversation," or "stage successful bridal photographs?" Her selections are sophisticated, surprising, inventive, and creatively placed. One of my favorite examples is the silvery-sage color she chose for my ballroom ceiling. I also had her select colors for my residence and a mountain cabin. Whatever she charges will seem like a bargain when you see what she adds to the value and enjoyment of your property. -Barbara L.

"Thanks Mary,

You bring peace of mind with your wisdom".

Nicole S.

"Just a note of appreciation.
The inside painting is completed and we are thrilled with it.This weekend we hosted our
families' pumpkin carving/painting party and no could believe
the change. One of my brothers-in-law said, "Wow, you painted
and bought all new furniture". When I told him there was
no new furniture (except a lamp from Target), he could not believe
it. The colors make such a difference. Then he looked around
again and said, "It's so elegant". That is from a man! My mother-in-law is going
to now use color in her house, she was so enthused with ours.
We can not say enough good things about your service and the
wonderful outcome we had. Please feel free to come out any time
to see it.Thanks again. We are looking
forward to painting the outside next Spring and we tell everyone
about you."

"I
must admit, when you first suggested thirteen colors for my new
salon I was a bit skeptical. But you came highly recommended
so I decided to go with your suggestion.This is my fifth salon and
by far the salon we get the most comments on. Clients love the
ambiance and continually comment on how relaxing the salon is.
They love how you have coordinated the color...each room, being
slightly different, produces a mood of its own. Great job, Mary.
Many thanks,"
Ted Isaacs: a commercial
interior client.